Due to some unforeseen scheduling conflicts that have arisen with the venue, Judas Priest have had to withdraw from the show in Pittsburgh on 24th September and it isn't possible to reschedule at this time as the building won't be open due to bad weather later in the season.

Judas Priest has added more dates to the second leg of their upcoming North American tour. Anthrax will be special guests. They will not be on every show - but most of them. Anthrax have not been comfirmed for Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver yet.

SPV Records has announced the signing of BEYOND FEAR, the brand new hard-hitting metal outfit founded by current ICED EARTH and former JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens. The band is preparing to enter the studio with producer Jim Morris (ICED EARTH, DEATH) to record their debut album for a 2006 release. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I Don't Need This", "And You Will Die", "It Is Me", "Telling Lies", "The Faith", "The Human Race", "Your Time Has Come" and "My Last Words".

"It feels great to sign with SPV," Owens commented. "I have been with them for quite some time now with ICED EARTH, so I know what they can do. It is always nice to have a label that makes you feel like family, and that's what SPV does for you!"

The band is off to a fast start, having recently announced their participation in a series of American dates with SAVATAGE leader Jon Oliva (JON OLIVA'S PAIN) and SAVATAGE axeman Chris Caffery. The tour kicks off on September 9, 2005 in Cleveland OH, with remaining dates pending.

Never one to sit still for long, Owens began forming BEYOND FEAR last year during breaks in the ICED EARTH touring schedule. The band also features John Comprix (SPAWN, 13 FACES) on lead and rhythm guitar, Dennis Hayes (ex-WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) on bass, Dwane Bihary (MISSING SKIN) on rhythm guitar, and drummer Eric Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR). "This band means a lot to me and I'm having the time of my life doing it," continued Owens. "It's fun when you finally get to do what you want. That being said, let's get this machine called BEYOND FEAR out there for the world to hear and see."

SPV Managing Director, Manfred Schuetz, explains, "Tim is one of the five best singers in metal. He will deliver an album that will convince everyone. SPV is excited about the worldwide commitment."

Anthrax will be the support act for most of the Judas Priest shows on 2nd leg of their "Angel of Retribution" tour. The tour starts in Mexico and so far goes through October. Confirmed dates with Anthrax so far are as follows:

Former JUDAS PRIEST and current ICED EARTH/BEYOND FEAR frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens has posted the following message in the "Forum" section of his official web site:

"PRIEST has informed me that they don't think it is a good idea to have BEYOND FEAR on any tours with them and that it would be best for me to drop the tribute/PRIEST factor. I know a lot of fans wanted this and I myself still like to please the fans. But it looks as though you will never see PRIEST and myself on the same tour. Sorry."

Owens is in the process of signing a record deal for his BEYOND FEAR project, which also features guitarists John Comprix (SPAWN, 13 FACES) and Dwane Bihary (MISSING SKIN), bassist Dennis Hayes (WINTERS BANE, SEVEN WITCHES) and drummer Eric Elkins (CRYPTKICKER, ALL YOU FEAR). Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "I Don't Need This", "And You Will Die", "It Is Me", "Telling Lies" and "The Faith".

"The contract is signed on my end, and I'm now waiting to get it back and the OK to start recording," Owens writes. "I have informed [producer] Jim Morris [ICED EARTH, DEATH, DEMONS & WIZARDS] and everybody involved that we will soon get this thing going."

Lemmy Kilmister, the notorious bass player and vocalist of U.K. rock 'n' roll titans Motörhead, will be honored with the very first "Living Legend" award at this year's inaugural Classic Rock Roll of Honor, organized by Classic Rock magazine. Taking place on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 at London's Café De Paris, the Classic Rock Roll of Honor will celebrate the big names as well as the unsung heroes from the diverse world of rock 'n' roll and promises to take a fresh approach to the tired award ceremony format.

To coincide with the 30th Anniversary of Motörhead, the U.K.'s most revered rock 'n' roll outfit as well as, unbelievably, Lemmy's 60th birthday celebrations, the Classic Rock Roll of Honor will place a special emphasis on the often diluted "Lifetime Achievement" award category.

Rather than simply giving Lemmy the "Living Legend" award on the night, the Classic Rock Roll of Honor will dedicate an entire section of the evening's proceedings to pay homage to the remarkable achievements of one of the U.K.'s best-loved rock 'n' roll stars. The team behind Classic Rock magazine and the Classic Rock Roll of Honor have assembled a moving tribute package that comprises of testimonials and greetings to Lemmy from a raft of peers and young bands and musicians inspired by the star, as well as messages from fans of all ages. It is hoped that Lemmy and the rest of Motörhead will complete the evening with a brief acoustic set. This however, has not been confirmed by the band at this stage.

In addition to Lemmy's "Living Legend" award, there will be a further eight awards on the night, which will be announced soon. Classic Rock also has announced the categories and nominations for the very first Readers' Awards, which are voted for by the readers via text message ballot: More...

JUDAS PRIEST's Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and K.K. Downing performed two songs acoustically for an upcoming VH1 Classic appearance, set to air on Saturday, July 16 at noon and again at midnight EST.

PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton told ABC ePrep that the band's upcoming live DVD, featuring footage from their recent shows at Japan's Budokan, will be released in the fall.

JUDAS PRIEST kicked off their North American with QUEENSRŸCHE on May 30 at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

JUDAS PRIEST are continuing to tour in support of "Angel of Retribution", their first album with singer Rob Halford in 15 years. "Angel of Retribution" was produced by Roy Z, who has previously worked on solo albums from Halford and IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson.

JUDAS PRIEST's "Angel of Retribution" has sold 146,224 copies in the United States to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Fifteen years ago, Reno became the focus of a high-profile lawsuit that charged the British heavy metal group JUDAS PRIEST with hiding subliminal messages in its music that led to the deaths of two fans.

As JUDAS PRIEST returns to perform tonight in Reno, those who took part in a courtroom drama that became the focus of international attention recalled the complex case that still generates calls from law students.

Other lawsuits at that time sought damages because of violent lyrics in music, but the JUDAS PRIEST case was one of the first to claim that subliminal messages hidden behind those lyrics caused the deaths of two young men.

"It was the first time there had been a judicial determination of whether subliminal messages were or were not protected speech under the First Amendment," former Washoe District Judge Jerry Whitehead said this week.

Whitehead, who heard the case after the lawyers agreed not to have the civil suit decided by a jury, ruled it was not. More...

Heavy rockers Slipknot have slashed the competition for the 2005 annual readers' poll in rock magazine Revolver by claiming the major four prizes.

The hardcore nine-piece claimed Best Band, Best Album ("Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses"), Best Live Act and Best Song ("Duality"), while Good Charlotte finished bottom of the pile, with dishonours as Worst Band and Worst Album ("The Chronicles of Life + Death").

Tracklisting for In Flames' new dvd has been released. The DVD includes various live shows, a back catalogue of videos, and interviews with bands such as Metallica and Judas Priest. Tracklisting is as follows:

- About In Flames- Interviews with band members- About the Metallica show in Madrid- Behind the Quiet Place video shoot- Behind the Touch of Red video shoot- Other videos: F(r)iend, Evil In A Closet- About the start of the Soundtrack tour 2004- Summer festival- Like You Better Dead at Metaltown- About the Japanese Tour- About the Australian Tour- LA – Roxy- About the Hammersmith concert- About the Judas Priest Tour- 666 at Scandinavium- Backstage tour- About the Sticky Fingers concert

VH1 is selling disinformation again in the name of being cute. This has become a real problem over there, where reaction over a few funny shows is turning the network into the obnoxious kid who won't stop popping off.

I'm writing about, of course, this awful "100 Most Metal Moments", which first showed its ugly head last year. At first, I was repulsed, angered ... and angered some more. I wanted someone at VH1 to pay for their stupidity and thoughtlessness in not only having no idea what metal was, but executing a show that, to some, would certainly be the authoritative voice on the subject. It's like giving Ashlee Simpson a part in a Janis Joplin bio film.

Once I calmed down, I realized this would go away. It wouldn't spread disinformation. VH1's addiction to cuteness, via second-rate celebrities popping off about things they don't understand, would take them in new directions. Or so I thought.

VH1 has decided to replay the show this month, which means that at any given time, a viewer has the chance to hear some so-called expert equate BON JOVI with the term "metal." Now I'm no Count Grishnackh, but in ninth grade I did ride all the way in the closed trunk of a Camaro (there was no room in the back seat) to see BLACK SABBATH at the Cow Palace.

Anyways, here's some of the VH1 tidbits a viewer can get brainwashed into believing are "metal" or even "most metal" if they're not careful: More...

"Pease be a little bit patient and understand that the world is a very big place and trying to set up shows worldwide takes time!!!! We can't be everywhere all at once!!

"We haven't forgotten about Canada — just as we haven't forgotten about all the other places like South America, Mexico, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand etc., etc!!! We are working on many other dates and will be announcing them just as soon as they are finalised - so please have a little bit of faith and trust us!! When we have some dates confirmed in Canada and everywhere else you will read them here!!"

JUDAS PRIEST have moved up the start date of their North American tour by a couple of days. The band will kick things off May 30 at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, rather than at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 1.

Former JUDAS PRIEST and current ICED EARTH frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens is currently shopping a five-song CD from his solo project, tentatively dubbed BEYOND FEAR. Songs featured on the CD are as follows:

01. I Don't Need This02. And You Will Die03. It Is Me04. Telling Lies05. The Faith

BLABBERMOUTH.NET, who had an opportunity to hear the recording,says it boasts a thick, heavy riffing style and extremely powerful vocals from Owens. Traces of JUDAS PRIEST, PANTERA and BLACK SABBATH are all present along with a healthy dose of double-bass drumming, which adds a modern edge to what is essentially a traditional metal approach.

As previously reported, Owens will be joined on his upcoming solo album by guitarist John Comprix (13 FACES, SPAWN) and an as-yet-undetermined drummer (original choice ICED EARTH's Bobby Jarzombek recently decided against becoming involved with the project). A tentative late 2005/early 2006 release is expected.

Judas Priest Management Coordinator Jayne Andrews has issued the following statement: "Due to the very sad passing of the Pope, the Judas Priest show in Katowice on Wednesday, 6th April has had to be cancelled. This is totally beyond our control. The President of Poland has declared all entertainment venues must cancel their shows in respect of 5 days of mourning for the Pope. We will of course try and reschedule this show at a later date. Once we confirm any details we will announce them [on the band's official web site]."

Judas Priest and Queensryche will be joining forces this year for an arena tour. Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate confirmed the rumor last week during his appearance on the syndicated radio program Rockline. During the interview Tate stated that the tour is expected to last eight weeks and will cover mostly outdoor arenas.